Scholastic homework debate

But some courageous teachers and innovative schools are taking up the challenge. There is no traditional homework at the Bellwether School in Williston, Vermont, except when the children ask for it or “are so excited about a project that they continue to work on it at home,” says Marta Beede, the school’s top administrator.

The “nearly intolerable burden” imposed by homework was partly a result of how defeated such children felt, he added—how they invested hours without much to show for it; how parents felt frustrated when they pushed the child but also when they didn’t push, when they helped with the homework but also when they refrained from helping.

Officials in Long Beach hope students will benefit from extra family time and playtime after school. Other schools around the country have closed the book on homework too. Some studies show that the homework doesn’t help students do better on tests. But not everyone is ready to ditch homework.

Yes! Homework is important because it gives kids a chance to practice what they learned in class. It also gives them the opportunity to dive deeper into a topic, which they may not have time to do in class. Plus, homework allows parents to see what their children are learning in school.